Hasbeen, are you reading the same thread as us, because so far most of the posts advocate a lot more than "just a few words", if you have read them yet.

Agree Merv- in fact, I should also add this in- there must be absolutely NO form of government selection of candidates to put to election, they must have the same right to apply freely as any other aspiring political candidate.

Any form of Presidential office that is dependent on parliament or any other elite office deciding who serves will be nothing but a useless and expensive puppet.

In (belated) response to Hasbeen's post:
everyone.
I have already pointed out that the rate payers of Qld would have benefited from a President with a mandate to protect the people from the vicissitudes and machinations of parliament; for more examples Google Peter Spencer -if you're not familiar with his case.
Consider: a President with a specific mandate to do very specific tasks would have nothing to do with policy.
What do political parties spend millions of dollars on in campaigns?
What do the notorious lobby groups spend their money on, trying to affect?
The campaign for a President completely divorced from policy would be very simple. Voters would look for demonstrated characteristics that would make for an Ultimate Ombudsman; honesty, incorruptibility, a passion for fair play, and the rights of the under dog...
In a sports mad country a 'best and fairest' sportsman could be a good candidate.
Or perhaps an outstanding referee...
Personally, I would vote for someone who has proven he/she is prepared to make sacrifices for her country, rather than someone most interested in their own advancement.
In other words, this Presidential post is not for politicians.

If the Bob Hawk's, John Howard's, Paul Keating's and Malcolm Fraser's of this world were around when we wrote our constitution they certainly and absolutely would have fought tooth and nail to prevent the Australian people from having the right to Elect our Senate.

As in Canada and Britain; the Senate would have been under the control of the Prime Minister. Both major parties would have fought tooth and nail to prevent the Senate having the teeth it has today, declaring it to be a threat to the authority of the Prime Minister.

We are 110 years ahead of the Brits and Canadians in having a powerful Senate and having the right to elect it.

As it is with the re'public' today. The major political parties are confounded by our constitution and the fact that the people wish to elect their President.

'The Commonwealth of Australia' was brought into being on a specific date by a 'single document' - 'The Australian Constitution', even the Americans can't claim that about their Constitution and certainly not the Brits or the Canadians.

Very true Sense- I feel that the Senate is the one clear part of our governmental arrangement we got right (and of course, the requirement for a referendum on any change to the constitution).

All this talk of heads of government, presidents grand Poobah's and such seems so pre 100's. Why do we need any of them? Why can't we have a peoples government run by the people with no Grand Poobah to poo on us? We have the Internet now, we have highly intelligent people contributing their thoughts, idea's and dislikes in real time 24/7 for free. Most of them are incredibly smarter than the trailer park trash that rule us now. Surely in the 21st century we could somehow come up with a plan where we the people discuss, vote and execute our own destinies in real-time with no direct governing body.

Take the NBN for instance, why could we all not just as we do know, thrash it out amongst our selves and then by a peoples real-time referendum, appoint a governing body to choose the right companies to perform the work, companies that are accountable. That governing body would be scrutinised daily by all interested to keep them on their toes. Once the job is finished that body of people is disbanded and a new group created for the next project. Councils run in a similar fashion would be responsible for the maintenance/upkeep of their respective areas.

I know what I'm suggesting is simplified here, not enough time and space to put it all down, but just think about it, It could be done and would work, costs would be slashed freedoms and a fair go for all would be renewed, we wouldn't need to waste millions on elections with hung parliaments and being held to ransom by some green watermelon that's never been to the bush. The best people for the job would always be chosen, efficiency would skyrocket and corruption would be reduced to almost nil. The will of the people will drive us forward as it has always done.